Alarmed At PS/MS 114 Cuts

The following correspondent wasallowed to remain anonymous forfear of retribution against his or herchild by school authorities.
Dear Editor,

I was alarmed to learn of the proposed budget and educational cuts planned for PS/MS 114 for the coming year, including but not limited to: 1.The complete elimination of a foreign language program. There will no longer be Spanish classes provided in any grade, K-8, leaving our students at a distinct and measurable disadvantage as compared to students from competing schools who have foreign language classes on their transcript when applying to middle and high school. 2. The major cuts to the science program, including eliminating the independent science program. 3. Cuts to the arts program that the administration was unable to clearly define. 4.The school will be, and has been, using “mass preps” to cover teachers’ time out of the classroom in which students of varying grades are placed in the school yard together with unclear guidelines for supervision.

What’s more is that these issues were brought up by parents at the PTA meeting on May 11 and never announced or addressed with parents prior to this meeting.

Such critical cuts in our children’s education should warrant a meeting of it’s own, called by the administration, in which parents are informed of all proposed reductions in their children’s education.

Parents need the opportunity to partner with the school administration and teachers to come up with solutions. Parents need to attend the PTA meeting on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at PS/MS 114 to express their concern.

Parents, and all homeowners in this community, should be concerned not only how the steady decline in education at PS/MS 114 impacts their children’s futures, but also their property values.